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Information About the Area from our Experts

Crime & Safety

West Baltimore is a grouping of several neighborhoods: Union Square/Hollins Market, known as Sowebo (Southwest Baltimore), Reservoir Hill, Edmonson, Pimlico, and Pennsylvania Avenue, which consists of sub-neighborhoods Upton, Penn North, Druid Heights, and Sandtown. While West Baltimore is said to be mainly responsible for Baltimore’s high crime rate, some neighborhoods are better than others. The Sowebo area is generally safe and more affluent and Pennsylvania Avenue, specifically Sandtown, is the most dangerous. While crime has been on a steady decline, and has seen rates half of those in the 1990’s since 2010, they are still among the highest in the country, specifically violent crimes and murder. A person’s chance of being a victim of violent crime in West Baltimore is 1 in 47, and of property crimes is 1 in 16.

Recreation

For all of the negative attention West Baltimore receives, there are some positive things to do in these neighborhoods. During the temperate months, Gwynns Falls Trail provides great outdoor recreation opportunities, including biking and walking trails and excellent white water rafting when the creek from the falls is high. Druid Hill Park also offers some outdoor fun. The Pimlico Racetrack, known as Preakness Stakes, is the site of some of the most popular horse races following the Kentucky Derby. The Edgar Allen Poe House and Museum and the Maryland Zoo are two major attractions in West Baltimore, and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, Black Cherry Puppet Theater, Druid Hill Studios art gallery, and two casinos also provide entertainment to residents and visitors.